THR RURAL NEW-YORKER 
626 
1912. 
STRAWBERRY GROWING IN THE CORN 
BELT. 
An Illinois Fruit Farm. 
Part II. 
Old Beds. —The best, quickest and easiest 
way to work over old beds that we have 
discovered is as follows: Mow the bed as 
soon as the crop is off. If the mulching 
has been pretty heavy, either rake it up 
and haul it off, or burn it. I do not recom¬ 
mend burning beds over in the usual way, 
as there is always danger of heating and 
destroying the plants. Sometimes it will 
do, sometimes not. If we wish to bum 
the litter, we rake it off the rows into the 
middles, or alleys, using the wood rakes 
that we employ in combing out runners. 
We then choose a time when no air is 
stirring, which is usually after four o'clock 
in the evening, and burn these rows of 
straw and dead leaves. Men with forks 
keep the fire under control, and no more 
rows are started to burning than can be 
properly looked after. In raking the litter 
off the rows care should bo taken to get it 
away clean from the edges. Unless the 
mulching has been very heavy there will 
be plenty of room for it between the rows, 
so that the fire will not coma in contact 
with the outer plants. 
Working Old Plants. —From a two- 
horse reversible disk we take all the cut¬ 
ters except two on each side. These are 
tiled sharp and the gangs set wide enough 
apart so that when the disks are set at 
an angle to throw the dirt slightly away 
from the center they will just trim up the 
sides of the row nicely. After going over 
the rows in this manner we reverse the 
disks so they will throw the dirt toward 
the center. We set them at an angle so 
they will throw sufficient dirt to entirely 
cover the stubs of tbe plants left from 
mowing. One might think they were 
buried out of sight forever. Now, we hitch 
to our spike-tooth harrow, and with the 
teeth set at a slight angle we go over the 
bed lengthwise of the rows. Usually once 
going over with the harrow is sufficient. 
The rows are leveled down, the soil is 
made fine and sifted down around the 
crowns of the plants, and enough soil is 
dragged off the rows so that every plant 
can come through. From now on we use 
the cultivator and weeder to the close of 
the season. If runners appear, as they 
usually do, we comb them out and dispose 
of them with the rolling cutters on the 
two-horse cultivator. Sometimes, when the 
mulching has been rather light, we do not 
remove it at all, but go right on with the 
disk and cut up the centers, mixing dirt 
and straw together, and then throwing 
enough up on the rows to serve our pur¬ 
pose. As a strawberry plant builds a new 
crown each year on top of the old, and 
sends out a new system of roots just above 
the old, it can be easily seen that putting 
a half-inch or so of dirt on top of the 
rows each year will give you a stronger 
and better plant than to leave the new 
roots so near the surface of the ground. We 
virtually make new plants out of the old, 
und this is much cheaper and easier than 
to narrow down the rows and depend on 
uew runners to make more plants. Should 
the season be very dry, there might be a 
failure to get sufficient new plants, at least 
in time to attain to a proper development 
before the close of the season. We have 
taken the fourth crop from plants treated 
us above described, and might have taken 
more had it not been for the rows becom¬ 
ing ridged too high. 
Straw for Mulching. —We use wheat 
and oat straw for mulching; more of the 
first as it is more plentiful, and because 
oat straw is used extensively for feeding, 
and farmers do not care to part with it so 
readily. Wheat straw is cheap. We can 
get all we want at a dollar a load, which 
means from one to one and a half ton. We 
are frequently offered the straw for the 
hauling, if we will “clean up’’ the stacks 
after the thrashing. Wind stackers are 
used almost altogether now, and a great 
deal of straw is littered around the base 
of the stack, and sometimes the ends are so 
eloping that they take the rain, or fur¬ 
nish the means for the stock to mount to 
the top. The farmer wants his horses and 
cattle to run to the stack, and so he offers 
us this straw in order to get it out of 
the way promptly. Usually, however, we 
buy by the stack, thus getting it cheaper 1 
than by the load, and having the advantage 
of being able to select our own time for 
hauling it. The month of October offers 
the best opportunity for this work, as the 
strawberry beds are then “laid by.” 
Use of Manure Spreaders. —Mulching 
the plants is usually a laborious and ex¬ 
pensive job. In previous years we have 
been accustomed to haul out the straw on 
wagons, throw off enough from each side 
in a continuous windrow to cover three 
or four rows, and then spread it with 
forks. Sometimes we would commence in 
November, after a few heavy frosts had 
deadened the foliage, provided the ground 
was not too soft. If so, we waited until 
It was frozen so as to bear up team and 
wagon. This last year we conceived the 
idea of using a manure spreader in putting 
on the straw. It seemed that to spread 
the straw as fast as hauled out was a very 
desirable thing to do if it were possible. 
■So we rigged a cover over the beater of 
our endless apron spreader, making the 
sides of galvanized iron, and fastening 
thereto wings just under and back of the 
beater, to deflect the straw as it fell and 
concentrate it to a little more than the 
width of a row of plants. We bolted a 
rail of one by four boards to each side of 
spreader box to enable us to pile up the 
straw a little higher than we usually build 
a load of manure. Being an endless apron 
machine, we can level the load down as it 
approaches the beater by pitching the top 
forward. The scheme worked admirably, 
though a few obstacles presented them¬ 
selves which we will know how to over¬ 
come in the future. First, it is necessary 
to go over each row from two to three 
times in order to get the straw on heavy 
enough. If it is necessary to drive very 
far to the stack for each load, too much 
time will be lost. One load reaches over 
about 900 feet of row. Hence, with rows 
of that length, half of the straw should be 
stacked at each end of the field. As one 
of our packing sheds is located in the 
center of such a field, and there is some 
vacant ground near it we will stack our 
straw for this field at that point, and work 
each half of the field separately. One load 
Will just take us to the end and back 
again to the stack, so there will be no 
empty haul. Second, as much, and some¬ 
times all, of the work will have to be done 
after hard freezing weather has set in, the 
straw when hauled should be stacked care¬ 
fully, so it will shed water. Last Winter 
we had to do a good deal of work with the 
ax in order to get our straw out. Of 
course big chunks of frozen straw do not 
spread very well. With proper attention 
to these details, the manure spreader prom¬ 
ises to be another labor-saver on this straw¬ 
berry farm. Our experience shows that 
two men and a good team of horses can 
cover an acre and a quarter of plants in a 
day. There is also a saving in straw. The 
spreader puts it on so evenly that the 
same amount of straw goes much further 
than when spread by hand. 
Machine Helps. —The transplanter, the 
cultivator and weeder, the disk harrow, 
rolling runner cutters, corrugated roller, 
etc., have all contributed to cheapen the 
cost . of growing the plants, while the 
spreader has greatly simplified the work of 
mulching. The telephone, which enables us 
to stand in our packing sheds and talk with 
our customers all over central Illinois, 
facilitates the marketing of the product, 
but we still have to depend upon human 
labor in picking the fruit, as man’s in¬ 
genuity fails him when he undertakes to 
devise a machine to do work requiring such 
careful discrimination and good judgment. 
Macon Co., Ill. j. c. nicholls. 
Grapes in California. 
I see on page 392 an article on “Trim¬ 
ming and Caring for Grapes,” and I must 
say that the more I read about conditions 
as they have them in the Fast the more I 
realize how little they know of conditions 
in California. While the East wasted 150 
years trying to introduce a foreign grape, 
and then had to give it up and go back to 
the native, of which they have made a big 
success, here in California I think that all 
our grapes that are a commercial success 
are foreign varieties. We have thousands 
of acres of grapes that are staked, having 
a stake at each vine; the Thompson Seed¬ 
less we use stakes six feet two by two 
inches of redwood, costing all ready to 
drive six cents each. For the Emperor, 
a table grape, the same stake is used. Some 
run two wires on stakes for both, while 
others fasten to stakes without wire. The 
wire prevents cultivating one way. We 
also stake Malagas and Sultanas, but with 
shorter stakes. California has been so 
bountiful that little has been done to im¬ 
prove our grapes; a Muscat (raisin grape) 
that would ripen two weeks earlier would 
be worth millions to the State, but when 
one sets out a new vineyard be goes all 
about to find out where he can get the 
Footings the cheapest, without any attempt 
to improve his conditions, p. a. wiiitney. 
Fresno Co., Cal. 
Si 
TV A TN THE LIGHT DRAFT 
Lfiilll “ONE MAN” 
HAY LOADER 
H ERE is a real Hay Loader; a genuine labor 
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DAIN EXCLUSIVE ADVANTAGES 
Easy to couple to all wagons without adjust¬ 
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or cause trouble. Goared right to insure light 
draft and greatest hay gathering efficiency. 
Gathering rakes ag<I elevating parts operated 
by hammock mounted pitmans. Works 
equally well on swath or windrow. Caster 
wheels in rear lessen draft and make turning 
easy. 
| The Dain Loader is lightest draft, most simple in 
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the hay; made to last from best materials. That’s 
why. .it is the most popular loader built today— 
why it is most widely imitated and just why it 
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j Consult your nearest John Deere Dealer about 
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iThem,” the most practical and helpful book 
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MOLINE, ILL, 
Put Your Savings Into A 
“Buckeye” Ditcher 
A LITTLE money invested in one 
of these steam or gasoline trac¬ 
tion ditchers brings big returns. 
Owners of BUCKEYE DITCHERS 
are making from $ 1 5 to $ 1 8 a day, 
nine to ten months during the year, 
digging ditches for farmers. 
Every farm owner wants machine- 
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perfect to grade and from 25 to 50 
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ditches. 
You can keep a gasoline or steam 
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Send for Catalogue IMo. 3 
which tells what farmers and others 
are making with one of these machines. 
You can test the machine three days 
on your own land without cost to you. 
THE BUCKEYE TRACTION DITCHER CO. 
FINDLAY, OHIO 
LOW-PRICED i | TTAC 
HIGH-GRADE A U I UO 
Used cars rebuilt and guaranteed by manu- j 
facturersameasnewcars. Best for rural roads. '• 
A high-grade high-powered car for very little 
money. Postal brings full information. 
Stoddard Motor Co., 229 W. 57th St., New York 
TTiTHTO 
Different than all 
others and better be¬ 
cause of the double 
gears, big oil boxes, 
drop-forged wrist pin, 
removable bearings, 
center lift. No side 
strain, no noise. Big, 
heavy and powerful. 4, 6, 
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diameters. Send for cata¬ 
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STOVER MANUFACTURING CO. 
188 Samson Ave„ Freeport, Ill. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
R. N.-Y. and you'll get a quick reply and a 
“square deal.” See guarantee editorial page. 
Edwards Roof Puts 
Cash in Your Pockets! 
Edwards “REO” Steel Shingles 
“TIGHTCOTE” Galvanized 
Will make money for you if you ore the first man 
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Last Five Times as Long as Wood 
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shingles because Edwards "Reo” Steel Shingles 
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Each and every Edwards shingle is dipped in mol¬ 
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$10,000 Ironclad Bond Lightning Insurance 
We agree to refund the amount paid in every case 
where a roof covered with Edwards Interlocking 
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This guaranty is backed by our $10,000 Ironclad 
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CntalogNo. 473 , withspocial low prices.Remembor 
the special money-making proposition puts you 
under no obligation to us. Send' dimensions of 
your buildings and wo will quote you cost. Freight 
prepaid. Writo today. (72) 
THE EDWARDS MFG. CO. 
423-473 Lock Street CINCINNATI, OHIO 
Largest Mira, of Stool Roofing Material In fho World 
Farmers! 
is it 
Carry this kit In 
your Wagon Box, 
Binder, Mower, etc. 
Contains tools for 
every repair need. 
Nine tools specially 
designed for the 
farmer’s use. With the 
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you can tighten any nut anywhere, rivet sections,cut 
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make new staples, stretch binder canvas, etc. Bon¬ 
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VT7RITE for FREE prepaid catalog; shows 250 
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DELIN CARRIAGE CO. 1732 Central Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio 
U delivered yuur 
station, ’’Lucky 
Low Down” 
Dump - cart. 
Strong, substantial. Steel 
wheels, wide tires, steel axle. 
Capacity, 1,400 lbs. Farmers, 
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everybody with a horse. 
Saves its cost every year 
HOBSON & CO. Easton, Pa. 
Less than 2V2C per da3r 
for five years will not only buy an 8' Goodhue Windmill 
and 80’ Steel Tower, but will pay for all your pumping, 
buy all your repairs, and furnish you with a new mill and 
tower if yours is destroyed within five years by cyclone, 
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willful abuse or neglect. 
You cannot even pump your water for that sum In any 
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your engine will amount to mor6 than that. You simply 
cannot afford to use any other power for pumping. 
GOODHUE 
WINDMILLS 
Goodhue Windmills are strong, durable and 
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really remarkable proposition. Delays are 
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APPLETON MFG.CO., 327 Fargo St.. Batavia. I1L 
Seed Box is Hung 
in the Center 
That makes the Acme Corn Planter handy 
for either right- or left-handed men. Gives 
it balance, too. It has double springs on the 
trip lever. Its drop is accurate and can be changed 
in the field without a screwdriver. 
| Alip Corn and Potato 
ACME PLANTERS 
Don’t furrow out for your potatoes, break your back 
dropping them, and then still have them to cover. 
Plant them as you walk along, regularly, at oven 
depth, and leave the ground level when finished, with 
an Acme Potato Planter. Write for booklet, “The Acme 
cf Potato Profit,” and name of nearest dealer. If it is 
handier for you, wo will ship, prepaid, on receipt 
of price. 
POTATO IMPLEMENT CO., 301 
Front St„ Traverse City, Mich. 
Insist on planter with 
this trademark 
